Labor leader Shelly Yachimovich at Kfar Saba campaign headquarters: There could be the possibility of forming an alternative government to a Netanyahu government • Isaac Herzog, Labor's No. 2, criticizes Hatnuah leader Tzipi Livni for taking votes away from Labor.

Labor Party leader Shelly Yachimovich responded immediately after the exit poll numbers were released on Tuesday on Facebook: "The television exit polls bestowed a massive chance for equality between the blocs and show that Yair Lapid earned more seats than us by one or two. There is no doubt that a political drama is playing out before our very eyes, whose final results we will only know in the morning. There is a great chance for a revolution and the end of the [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu government."

Yachimovich appeared later at Labor headquarters at Beit Berl College near Kfar Saba and said: "There could be the possibility of forming an alternative government to a Netanyahu government. I want to commit to you, here and now, that I will do everything I can to muster all the forces to block an extremist capitalist government that is cruel to its citizens. I intend to do all I can to create an opportunity for such change."

"I spoke to Yair Lapid this evening," Yachimovich said. "I congratulated him on his achievements. We need to wait for the real results, as they may be very significant. The balance in my bloc is very fragile and there is a great chance that tomorrow [Wednesday] morning, Netanyahu will not be able to put together a coalition. There is a possibility to put together a government that will be concerned with social issues, will promote a peace process and we have the strength to join together to block Netanyahu from forming a government. As long as Netanyahu is prime minister, nothing will change.

"This is not a personal rejection. I respect the prime minister, but there is a deep ideological chasm between our way and his way. We have shared a long journey together, we have repositioned this party and made it the most democratic party on the political map. We've empowered our young masses who connect on a deep ideological level, looking into the future and acting with morality. We have created something fantastic and wonderful and we are just getting started.

"Look at the profound fingerprint of the [2011] social protests. See how there is absolute mistrust in Netanyahu. See him weakening along with [Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor] Lieberman — they went down by 10 seats. The public has spoken: We don't want Netanyahu's policies."

Isaac Herzog, no. 2 on the Labor list, attacked Hatnuah leader Tzipi Livni on Tuesday, saying: "If it was up to us, there would be a significant makeover. The people of Israel want a significant change in direction and we need to respond. Also, the possibility of leading the Opposition exists. Tomorrow [Wednesday] morning we'll sit and discuss the dramatic developments. Livni entered the race at the last minute and took seats from us. I personally spoke to her and told her: let's unite. Clearly there are no error-free humans, and we will need to discuss that as well."

Erel Margalit, no. 10 on the Labor list, said on Tuesday: "A drama played out in Israel. This is a celebration for Israeli democracy. Young adults who came out to vote for the first time came out en masse and roared a great cry of protest against Netanyahu and Lieberman and their financial plan. This was the major drama for the day. Finally we are putting our trust in change. In the Center-Left block there was also great drama. Good on Yair Lapid. Labor also grew. With respect to Lapid, the question remains whether he wants to make big changes or be Netanyahu's fig leaf and receive some ministry portfolios. We are at the dawn of a new day. We saw that we can create an alternative to Netanyahu. The Israeli public proved this today. The blocs are about the same size now. Now we have to change the tune but not undermine the power. The Center-Left has an additional 100,000 voices. We needed to talk more clearly about our diplomatic agenda. We didn't talk enough about diplomacy. Voting for the protest against Netanyahu is also diplomatic — nobody wants to see us isolated internationally. The diplomatic issue must also be a focus for the Labor Party."

Yachimovich tried on Tuesday and throughout the campaign to focus on starting a revolution and changing the government. On election day, Yachimovich started her touring in Givat Brenner, the kibbutz with the highest number of voters, and expressed her happiness over their voter turnout. Yachimovich was warmly received, toured around in a buggy and encouraged kibbutz members to vote.

Later, Yachimovich visited with potential voters in Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv. She was received with flowers and a flood of questions regarding where the money for her economic plan would come from. To all enquiries, Yachimovich responded, "Everything is in the economic plan."